(BEND, Ore.) - The Central Oregon Health Council (COHC) and PacificSource Community Solutions recently announced more than $1.5 million in one-time transformative investments in health promotion and health care services in the Central Oregon region. The funds will promote health care transformation aimed at ensuring higher quality care provided in a more cost-effective way. The transformation dollars were made available through the Oregon Health Authority’s Transformation Center.

Together, PacificSource and the Central Oregon Health Council lead the PacificSource Central Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (CCO), which serves more than 43,000 Oregon Health Plan members in Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, and northern Klamath counties. Transformation projects approved by the COHC were selected to meet a mix of designated CCO outcomes and transformation priorities ranging from prevention-oriented programs to improved care coordination for people with complex medical and behavioral health needs. Projects include:

Bending the OHP Dentistry Cost Curve in Central Oregon by Reducing the Burden of Oral Disease (Advantage Dental): Dental Caries (tooth decay) is a disease with significant public health implications. This project’s goal is to increase toothbrushing frequency and reduce tooth decay in children by providing free toothbrushes along with education and telephone support to families.

Bridging Specialty Care Barriers with Telemedicine (Mosaic Medical and Bend Memorial Clinic): The project involves designing, building and implementing a specialty care telemedicine program at Mosaic clinics. The program will begin with cardiology and eventually offer a number of specialty health services.

Testing Non-traditional “Flexible” Benefits (PacificSource Community Solutions and COHC’s Community Advisory Council): Transformation Funds will provide a one-time fund to test a new model for flexible services, or items and/or services that may have a significant impact on one’s health but are not currently considered a “covered benefit.” PacificSource will work with its Community Advisory Council to assess community needs, develop priorities, and develop a system for dispersing flexible services to eligible CCO members.

Engaging CCO Individuals and Families in their Health and Health Care (PacificSource Community Solutions): PacificSource will use transformation funds to develop a program aimed at engaging CCO members through improved communications, meeting the needs of a diverse membership, promoting use of the member’s medical home and reducing gaps in care that result from avoidable disenrollment from the health plan.

Improving Medical Transportation and Optimizing Use of Emergency Response Services (Redmond Fire and Rescue and Commute Options): Transformation funds will be used to identify opportunities to improve cost, access, and quality of medical transportation options. Funds will also be used to implement an innovative “Community Paramedicine” (CP) program. The CP program will optimize access to care for members through the use of specially trained EMS personnel in an expanded role. The goal is to reduce hospital readmissions of frequent 911/ED users, including responsive care for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and high risk diabetic patients.

Improving Care for Children with Type I Diabetes (St. Charles Health System): The Pediatric Health Engagement Team will improve health for medically complex children in the St. Charles and COPA networks, specifically those with multiple inpatient stays and emergency department visits related to poorly managed diabetes. The team will use tablet based video technology to maintain communication with high-risk patients and families.

Creating an Infrastructure to Evaluate a Global Payment in Integrated Primary Care Practices (University of Colorado, Denver): This project will evaluate global payment that enables practices to provide both physical and mental/behavioral health care in primary care settings. Funds will also be used to set up practices to collect data successfully in order to evaluate the impact of global payment.

Bridging Public Health Home Visiting Services and Primary Care for Improved Maternal and Child Health Outcomes (Wellness and Education Board of Central Oregon): Funds will be used to expand nurse home visiting roles for high risk pregnant women, focused on improving prenatal/early childhood care coordination and continuity with primary care.

About the Central Oregon Health Council:

The Central Oregon Health Council consists of health care, county, and other community leaders in Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, and Klamath counties who work together to promote the health of Central Oregon residents. The Central Oregon Health Council works in partnership with PacificSource Community Solutions to guide the area’s Coordinated Care Organization as well as develop strategies and policies to address community health needs and transform the health care delivery system in the region.

About PacificSource Community Solutions:

PacificSource Community Solutions serves Medicaid members through its coordinated care organizations in Central Oregon and the Columbia Gorge. It is part of the PacificSource family of companies, which has an 81-year history and reputation for taking great care of people. PacificSource employs 700 people, and serves more than 300,000 members with individual, employer, Medicare, and Medicaid plans throughout the Northwest.